2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV – It Puts Drivers “in Charge”

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is a completely new model in the lineup and it was first introduced at the North American International Auto Show in 2015, it quieted a lot of reviewers that were skeptical about the success of this aggressive conqueror of electric cars segment. Well, they had reasons for doubting the optimism and promises of General Motors because the company claimed about the capability to provide the Tesla-like range for a Chevrolet-like price. But there it was all-electric, ready for mass production, which was unbelievable, considering all difficulties with developing that remarkable eco-efficiency. Should the competitors at Ford and Volkswagen be concerned with beating this one? Can it jeopardize Tesla? Let’s find out.

Chevrolet Puts Drivers “in Charge”

Before we talk about the design, price, and other things, let’s discuss the main topic that caused a rigorous response from many reviewers, the performance of the battery in this vehicle. Most manufacturers boast with the ranges their cars can achieve without recharging. Today, we see that affordable electric cars can go up to 50 miles on the battery, which is quite an achievement. However, it is nothing compared with the range of the new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, more than 200 miles per charge of a nickel-rich lithium-ion battery. That’s pretty impressive, huh?

According to the company’s website, the recharging is as easy as plugging the smartphone and does not require long hours of waiting. For example, the full recharge takes nearly 9 hours, which is also reasonable provided the maximum range. However, if the driver has only one hour to replenish the battery, it will provide up to 25 miles of range. The vehicle is supplied with the 240-volt charging unit, which is the best way to accomplish this task. This performance is attributed to the nickel-rich lithium-ion battery, which has an innovative system of self-management that saves the energy.

The system is comprised of the heat resistance elements and a liquid cooling mechanism that keeps the temperature of the battery at desired levels regardless of the outside temperature. The energy capacity of the battery is estimated at 60 kWh and as we already mentioned it returns about 200 miles. On-board-tech allows you to monitor battery pack, which also can help the driver to find a charging station on the road ahead.

Image source: Official website

Exterior Design, Changes

The first impression made by the new Chevy is remarkable: it immediately catches the eye with its sharp, contemporary exterior style. All elements look just right, which suggests that the model won’t be dismissed for being too ‘cute’ or trying too hard to impress. The vehicle’s exterior is very cool and should be well-received by all demographic groups because it combines new progressive style with the traditional Chevy elements. Two systems of effective radar and camera systems are included from front and back and on both sides to ensure the best parking assist and prevent collisions, which the company calls “Overprotection in a good way.”

One of the biggest advantages that the EV’s offer is the option to pretty much completely close the front end eliminating air intakes and improving aerodynamics. This is exactly what we are getting with the new electric Chevrolet Bolt, dark grille where the upper part brings large Chevrolet badge while the lower segment might remind few people on Ford Fusion but still it is unique enough. Modern, LED-rich headlights are placed as the extension of the upper grille while the fog lights are placed right under headlight units at the very high position. There is no doubt that this is one quite unique vehicle and at the back, we have interesting tail lights that are integrated into trunk door plus smaller segments that are placed towards rear doors. Bumper starts off pretty high and is equipped with two additional light unit clusters but without the exhaust pipe that we are used to get on standard gasoline and diesel powered cars. When we take a look from the side we can immediately notice hard and aggressive creases and unique alloy wheels placed in wheel arches with plastic add-ons.

Chevrolet engineers have to be praised once again, this time for aerodynamics. They prioritized success in achieving effective aerodynamic features that would contribute to higher efficiency and better performances of the vehicle. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV moves gracefully through the wind, which flows smoothly around the car, from the headlights to the rear wheels. Unnecessary drag is reduced by the optimization of the vehicle’s body, lightweight aluminum, and smooth proportions, which, in turn, contributes to such impressive range. Since the powertrain of this vehicle does not require air for combustion and energy production, it was possible to enclose the underbody completely (another plus for aerodynamics).

Image source: Official website

Interior Styling, Features

Chevrolet wanted for long time to make investments into the long-terms future of its vehicles, which can be proved by Bolt. Specifically, this model features a brand new unique platform, which shows the commitment to the engineering of better future. One of the main characteristics provided by the new platform is a flat-bottomed interior, which maximizes the space inside the vehicle by allowing you to store the battery pack under the seats.

The seats in the cabin are designed to keep the driver and passengers in SUV-like positions, this is helped out by slightly higher floor with a battery pack. As it was mentioned above, the designers at Chevrolet decided to make the battery pack flat and store under the interior floor. This allowed them to increase the interior room for passengers and make up to 16.9 cubic feet of cargo space. Tall individuals will feel pretty comfortable inside the vehicle because of its roomy design and sufficient space provided by the battery placement. The cargo space can be increased up to 56.6 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats. Once again, an impressive number. According to the company’s Executive Vice President of product development Mark Reuss, the design of the interior space “created a fantastic view from every seating position and gave a lot of opportunities to play with creative design and storage solutions.”

Image source: Official website

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is equipped with a 10.2-inch diagonal center display which helps to meet all multimedia needs of the owners, manage contacts and operate GPS module, climate controls and shows battery status. It also provides the statistics of energy efficiency and range, which is critical for estimation of range. Another impressive feature of the vehicle is the opportunity to control the display with simple, intuitive hand gestures. Undoubtedly, this works well for safety and provides unprecedented convenience.

Video – Interior Walkthrough

Video source: SlashGear

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Price

One of the central lows of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, unmistakably, is the price. It starts at above $30,000 but has one small stipulation: application for federal tax credit. After applying, the clients will purchase the vehicle for this reasonable price, which puts the product on par with other electric and gas vehicles, including Ford Focus Electric, Volkswagen e-Golf, and BMW i3 (these are the principal competitors as well). However, without the application for the credit, the cost rises to $37,500, so the first option is definitely the one to take.

When can I get it?

Getting an all-electric Chevy with such impressive range (which, by the way, is even close to the smallest packs of Tesla Model S, 230 miles) for $30,000 is a pretty good deal. Well, if you think so too, you should prepare to test drive one very soon: the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is set to be released in late 2016.